Firebird

Chapter 4

Kyla

After breakfast, we started down to the aeries. I noticed he looked everywhere. Likely try to get a lay of the land.
      "So tell me more about dragons." He started. "I know the basics. But your father said something about being soul bound. I'm not understanding that one."
       "Dragons pick their riders. And sometimes they're soul bound. Meaning their soul sends out a call." I explained. "It can happen at any stage of their life. Tanwen called to me from the egg. I was the first person she ever laid eyes on. Others here have called out to their rider after they were born. Sometimes even in their adolescence or adulthood."
       He listened intently. Not the way people in the court did. They listened because they felt like they had to. Not really interested in what I had to say. But Beckett truly seemed like he was interested.
      "Dragons have two soul bound partners in life. Their riders and another dragon." I told him.
      "Like soul mates?" He asked, curious.
      "Exactly like souls mates." I said with a smile. "Come on. I'll show you what I mean."
      We walked into one of the smaller aeries where some fae were already walking around, getting ready to fly. I took him to one of the stalls on the ground level. There were two dragons and their riders inside. The riders both laughing and pushing each other around.
       "These two dragons are soul mates. And those two fae are their soul bound riders." I leaned against the stall door, smiling at them. "The riders are best friends now. Brought together by their dragons. They have each other's backs in battle."
       "I never knew this much about dragons. They're amazing creatures." He said in awe. We stood there a moment longer before moving on. I walked upstairs and stopped at the top. Two dragons laid together, taking in the sunshine. They both lifted their heads at me and hummed a little. I walked until I was right in front of them.
    "This is Jax and Alya. My parents dragons." I told him. He approached slowly before stopping in front them and crouched next to me. Both dragons stared at him for a moment before laying their heads back down. I sat down and leaned against Alya.
    "They're soul bound to each other. It's how my parents met each other." I said, laying my head against Alya's side. She sighed deeply but didn't move. "My parents were young when they went into their first battle together. They say that it was love at first sight for them but neither one spoke up about their feelings for months. But they were inseparable. When they came back, he asked to court her."
    He sat down and crossed his legs. Intently listening to every word. How many times had he sat around the fire of a battle camp, listening to others tell stories?
    "She tried to act like he didn't impress her at all. You see, he used to strut about the castle when he was a prince. She wanted to knock him down a few pegs. So she made him chase her." I said with a laugh. That made him laugh too. "He did everything he could think of to impress her. But what really did it, was him taking the time to find out her favorite things. Then one day, they went for a ride together and he officially asked her to marry him. Told her that he could not live without her. So she said yes. They were so in love."
    "Sounds like it." He said. "I used to hear stories about them. How they were fierce in battle but a doting couple in their home. Stories like that made every man want love."
    "You should have seen it for yourself. They used to dance in the halls when they thought no one was looking." I smiled and looked out the open window. "I remember how she used to pop up during his meetings, tell him there was an emergency, and drag him from the room. Then she'd find me and together we'd fly for hours. I didn't have Tanwen then, so I used to ride Alya with my mama"
    I was lost in thought, memories pouring in. I looked and noticed Beckett smiling at me. I smiled back before getting up.
    "Come on." I told him. "You can meet Tanwen."